Comparison

Pulse vs IntervalForge

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Pulse

Features
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Pulse: HIIT Interval Timer makes high-intensity interval training simple and effective. No sign-ups, no clutter — just fast, easy-to-use timers for your workouts. FEATURES: - Pre-set HIIT & Tabata workouts - Customizable intervals & rounds - Clear visual and sound alerts - Works fully offline - Lightweight and ad-supported (optional) Perfect for beginners and pros alike — Pulse keeps your training focused, simple, and motivating. Start your workout today!

About

IntervalForge

Features
Read full description

Giant 72pt digits you can read from across the gym. Live countdown on your Lock Screen and Dynamic Island. Pay once, keep it forever — no subscription. Built for HIIT, Tabata, circuits and strength training. The whole screen turns red for work and green for rest, so one glance tells you what to do next. READY IN ONE TAP Three presets are included: Tabata (20s/10s × 8), HIIT 30/15 and a 3-exercise Circuit. Pick one and go. QUICK REST TIMER FOR LIFTING — NEW Between sets, one tap starts a 60, 90, 120 or 180-second rest. No setup needed. SIRI, SHORTCUTS & CONTROL CENTER — NEW Start a workout or a rest timer with Siri, a Shortcut or a Control Center button. The new Home Screen widget quick-starts your favorite workouts or a rest timer. LOCK SCREEN & DYNAMIC ISLAND Live Activity shows the running countdown without opening the app — free for everyone. KEEPS RUNNING IN THE BACKGROUND Lock your phone or switch apps: the timer keeps going and notifications mark every interval change. Your music is lowered, not stopped. BUILD YOUR OWN WORKOUT Set work and rest times, sets, rest between sets and an exercise name for each interval. Total time remaining is always on screen. Workout history and a weekly summary keep you consistent. PRO — ONE-TIME PURCHASE No monthly fees, ever. Pro is a single purchase that unlocks: - Unlimited custom workouts - Editable presets - Voice guidance: hear each exercise, set and a 10-second warning without looking at your phone (NEW) The free version includes all 3 presets and 1 custom workout. FEATURES - No subscription — buy Pro once - 72pt full-screen display, color-coded work/rest - Live Activity on Lock Screen & Dynamic Island (free) - Quick rest timer: 60/90/120/180s (free) - Siri, Shortcuts & Control Center (free) - Home Screen widget: quick-start favorites or a rest timer (free) - Reliable background timer with notifications - Plays nicely with your music - 3-second countdown and haptics - Exercise names per interval - Workout history & weekly summary - Screen stays awake during workouts Questions or ideas? Leave a review or contact us from the support page.

Screenshots

Pulse4 screens
IntervalForge4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Pulse at 16.0 against IntervalForge's 26.0. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Pulse sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and IntervalForge sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Pulse ships an update fortnightly, IntervalForge every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 5 level
Pulse versus IntervalForge: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPulseIntervalForge
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS16.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGirish PadavalaShuto Nishiyama

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Pulse

One-time1
  • Pulse Pro Lifetime$3.99
1 purchases

IntervalForge

One-time1
  • IntervalForge Pro$2.99

Questions

Is Pulse free?
Pulse is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is IntervalForge free?
IntervalForge is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Pulse or IntervalForge have ads?
Neither Pulse nor IntervalForge shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Pulse or IntervalForge?
Pulse ships an update fortnightly, and IntervalForge every 3 weeks. Most recently, Pulse was updated on November 5, 2026 and IntervalForge on October 28, 2026.

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